Safety razor



April 1955 E. w. GENT 2,705,364

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Dec. 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wi, l9 25 w 5457 Fi sINI 'ENTOR. 4 m/e 1/. aewr M,M,WM+ 5M6 April 5, 1955 I E. w. GENT2,705,364

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Dec. 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDGAR 14 E/VTBY a M 114M" 41% SAFETY RAZOR Edgar W. Gent, Morristown, N. J.

Application December 8, 1951, Serial No. 260,621

9 Claims. (Cl. 30-40) This invention relates to a safety razor and moreparticularly to a safety razor with a tape blade and means forcontaining and dispensing the same.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationSerial Number 162,357, filed May 16, 1950, now abandoned.

It is an object of my invention to provide a safety razor of relativelysimple and economical construction employing a minimum number of partsor details of manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to provide a razor with novel meansfor holding a supply of tape blade of material length and which can beproperly positioned in a shaving zone in said razor, and novel means fortaking up the used portion of the tape.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor forcontaining supply and take-up means for a tape blade which extendssubstantially around the perimeter of the razor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compactsafety razor requiring a minimum number of parts to make and assemble inwhich the body and handle member form a one piece structure and whichaccommodates a magazine for a roll of razor tape and a magazine fortaking up the spent or used portion of the tape.

Another object of my invention is to provide a razor of unitaryconstruction having a spiral tape blade therein adapted to be movedacross the shaving zone for providing a plurality of shaves.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a safety razorof triangular shape in which the faces thereof have tape confining meansand the base portion is longitudinally extended so as to form a surfacecontacting channel portion adapted to retain therein a blade having acutting edge which can be moved to bring into shaving position, anunused section of blade.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick and ready meanswhereby the used tape can be disposed of in its magazine and a magazineof new tape properly inserted and positioned without hazard to theoperator.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a frontal face view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental, sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing tolerancebetween blade and sides of accommodating groove;

Fig. 6 is a detail taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, also showing tolerancebetween blade and sides of accommodating groove;

Fig. 7 is a detail taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, showing the seating ofthe blade in the groove at said portion;

Fig. 8 is a detail taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing availableclearance about blade;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a spiral roll of blade tape hardened to formsuch a roll forming part of the in vention;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the body or container of the magazine formingpart of the invention;

United States Patent 0 Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the lid or cover for the bogy or containerof the magazine shown in Fig. 10; an

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 1313 of Fig. 12.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar reference numerals referto like parts throughout, it will be noted that I provide a razor 10having a handle 11 and a body member 12 integral with said handle. Saidhandle 11 is inclined with respect to the front plane 13 of the bodyportion to lend ease in shaving. It will be noted that said handle andbody portion are integral with and relatively disposed at an angle withrespect to each other. Said front plane 13 is provided with a frontrecess 14 provided with bayonet slots 15 for accommodating bayonet pins16 on magazine 17 which is adapted to fit into said recess, 14.

The rear plane surface 18 is provided with a rear opening or recess 19containing bayonet slots 20 for accommodating bayonet pins 21 ofreceiving or take up magazine 22 for a tape blade 23. It will be notedthat the plane of said rear surface 18 is not parallel with the frameplan 13 but intersects it to the left and at an extension from the body12 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The body portion 12 as shown in Fig. 1 isof substantially triangular shape with its apex 24 merging with handle11 thus leaving the base or face contacting portion 25 extendingupwardly and angularly with respect to said handle 11, as shown in Fig.7. Said body portion, furthermore, is provided with a continuous grooveor slot 26 which extends in the body from opening 14 to the right side27 of body portion 12, then curves laterally into the groove or slot 27ain the face contacting portion then downwardly and at an incline ingroove or slot 28 and obliquely into the opening 19 in the rear face.This slot accommodates the spiral roll of tape blade 23 extending frommagazine 17 as shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the slot 26 and 28allow for clearance of the blade 23 therein, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and8, while groove or slot 27a is narrow and provides a small clearance soas to keep the tensioned blade extending from roll 23 in magazine 17 inrelatively flat parallel position with respect to the groove 27a in theface contacting portion as shown in Fig. 7. Such a tight fit preventsany mobility of the blade in this groove and also affords excellentshaving qualities of the blade in the body portion.

It will be noted that the face contacting portion 25 is set back fromthe plane 13, as shown in Fig. 2, providing a slight recess in the upperlip 29 thereof to permit extension of the cutting edge of the blade 23,as shown in Fig. 7. In other words, the lips gradually increase inheight around the curves of the slots from 26 to 25 and are of the sameprotecting height when they join the tangent lips around the bendsleading to and from the face contacting portion 29 respectively.Furthermore, as indicated in Fig. 8, there is a clearance channel openat the rear of the body portion, the clearance being sufiicient topermit warping of the tape blade as it is being taken up by the take-upmagazine 22.

As to the tape blade 23, it is spiral hardened and is in the form of atape of material length, very thin and narrow, and sharpened at oneedge. Each end, however, is unsharpened to permit handling and loadingin razor 10, and the entire length is hardened to form a spiral in thenormal free state. Due to the initial curvature of this type of bladesmaller radii can be used in the end portions of the shaving zone in theface contacting portion because there is less distortion in the bladedue to its initial curvature. Also, it is to be noted that with aspirally hardened blade there is less friction drag when the blade isdispensed from the supply magazine since there is less distortion of theroll when it is in place in the magazine. When the normally curved bladeis in position in the horizontal channel of the shaving zone, it exertsa flexing effort and this results in a retaining effort within thechannel at the shaving zone.

Magazine 17, as shown in the drawings, includes a cup member 29 and alid 30. The description of magazine 17 is also applicable to take-upmagazine 22 because they are identical. The magazine cup 29, as shown,is provided with spaced slots 31 in circular Wall 31a which extends fromthe open end to the base 32. The base, as will be noted, is a plane flatsurface and is provided with two diammetrically opposed bayonet pins 16as hereinabove indicated, which are located on the outer surface andflush with the underside of the base 32. The top rim 33 of said cup 29has a beveled lip 34 extending around the top. The lip in turn isprovided with an overhang 35 which has a sharp corner with a rounded topor approach to aid in tightly snapping the cover or lid 30 thereon.

It will be noted that because of the construction of the cup 29 that thediameter of the top lip 34 is such that when spiral roll of blade 23 isinserted and the lid or cover 30 is snapped on or into final positionthe top of the cup 29 is reduced in diameter causing the normallycylindrical cup cubage to take on a frustum of a cone cubage. In thismanner the outer surface of the roll of tape is positioned in contactwith the inside of the bottom of the cup thus insuring that the bladewill be free of any damage to its cutting edge and also the blade willbe withdrawn or dispensed with the same relationship to the landingsurface at the bottom of the channel or groove in the shaving zone sothat the blade will always be properly positioned in the slot or groove27a in the shaving zone of the face contacting portion.

In somewhat similar manner the tape at the other end of the shavingzone, when it is withdrawn by operation of magazine 22, will also beproperly positioned against the bottom of the shaving channel 27a due toproper positioning of the bottom of the slot in the magazine cup Wherethe sharp edge of the blade is engaged with the inside surface of thebottom of the take-up magazine cup. In positioning a new blade, thecover provided with hub 30a of the take-up magazine is rotated until theslot 36 in the cover is in line with the tape slot 36a in the cup.

The tape outlet slot 36a is provided in the cup of the magazine properlylocated with respect to the bayonet fastenings. When magazine 22 is usedin the take-up position the end of the tape can be readily inserted inthe slot 36 in the cover and into the slot in the stud which is in linewith the slot in the cover and forms an integral part of the cover. Therazor would be supplied initially with a magazine of new blade and anempty take-up magazine having its cover snapped in final position. Whenthis supply of blade is exhausted the take-up magazine and used bladewill be removed and discarded as a unit. The empty supply magazine willbe replaced by a new magazine of blade and the empty supply magazinewill be put into position as a take-up magazine.

The cover or lid 30 is preferably of transparent plastic material suchas Lucite to show at a glance the supply of tape available in the cup ormagazine and to enable the operator to more readily insert tape into theslot of the take-up magazine.

Take-up magazine 22 can be easily operated by mere ly rotating knurledlid 30 whereupon the tape blade from roll 23 is drawn in the desiredamount through the slots 26, 27, 27a and 28 into the take up magazine.

From the foregoing description of my invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, it will be noted that I provide a safetyrazor employing a tape blade having a minimum number of details ofmanufacture. The tape blade as assembled in manufacture eliminates manyhazards which would be associated if the blade were to be placed intoposition by the user. Furthermore, after the blade is assembled, themagazine is readily sealed. The magazine is of simple construction andcan be produced at relatively low cost as a moulded part.

The advantages of my invention are that a very small number of parts isneeded to manufacture the same, and the safety zone channel or groove isan integral part of the body member, thereby permitting easy handling ofthe razor.

The blade tape is positioned by the physical characteristic of the bodymember coacting with the bases of the magazine. In addition, there areno hazards in handling the blade nor are there any supplemental partsrequired which, as heretofore, could be readily lost or mislaid.

There are also provided in my invention frictional means employedbetween the cover and the side cup in the magazine to provide tensionand proper alignment of the tape blade in the shaving zone. The lipsassociated with the shaving zone are so positioned and contoured as toprovide safe and easy shaving, and the clearance between channel wallsand blade is reduced to a minimum to prevent any lodging of hair. Anywater or soap entering the magazine is easily discharged from the slotsin the cup of the magazine.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been described andillustrated, it is to be noted that various changes as to form, use andarrangement of parts and/or materials may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a handle, a substantially triangular shapedbody integral with the handle at an apical portion thereof and extendingangularly from the handle when the razor is brought into working contactwith the face, a continuous tensioned spiral roll of razor tape in thefront face of the body adapted to extend along and be exposed from partof the perimeter of the body portion to permit shaving, and a take-upmagazine in the rear face of the body arranged obliquely of the plane ofthe front face of the body for drawing said tape across said perimeterand obliquely of the front face, said magazine having an obliquelyarranged slotted cup with an overlapping lip and a lid with an inwardlyextending lip adapted to slide over the lip of the cup and form acompressed relatively tight fit with same.

2. A safety razor comprising a handle, a substantially polygonal shapedbody member connected with the handle and extending angularly therefrom,said member having a slot adjacent the perimeter thereof and a planeface with an opening therein, a magazine in said opening, a roll oftensioned razor tape in said magazine adapted to extend along the slotand be exposed from part of the perimeter of said member to permitshaving, said body member having an oblique rear face with an openingtherein, the plane of which intersects the plane face, and anothermagazine parallel with said other face of the member for drawing saidtape across said perimeter of the member, each of said magazines havinga slitted cup with an outwardly flanged lip adjustably fitted in therespective face of the body, and a lid adapted to crimp one end of thecup to form a closure therewith to position and contain the tape.

3. A safety razor comprising a handle, a member integrally connectedwith the handle and extending angularly therefrom having a front and arear opening in a front and rear face respectively, a spiral roll oftensioned razor tape in said member adapted to extend along and beexposed from part of the perimeter of said member to permit shaving, amagazine for said tape parallel with and in the front face of the memberfor supplying said tape across said perimeter and another magazineparallel with the bottom surface. in the opening of the rear face fortaking up the used tape, each of said magazines comprising a slitted cupmember with an outwardly flanged lip and a rotatable lid thereon with adownwardly extending flange adapted to overlap the lip and compress thesame, said lid having means for holding one end of the tape to wind thesame therein.

4. A safety razor comprising holding means and a head member integralwith said means having a circular opening, a supply magazine in saidopening adapted to retain a roll of continuous shaving tape therein, anopening in the rear portion thereof, a take-up magazine in said lastopening for receiving the tape in roll form, said head member having anexposed groove in the perimeter thereof for accommodating the tape andforming and permitting exposure of the cutting edge of the tape to formcontact with the face, each of said magazine openings having bayonetslots therein, and each of the magazines having lugs for engagement withthe slots, and a manually operable rotatable lid sealing the magazinehaving a slotted hub extending into said magazine for accommodating theroll.

5. A safety razor comprising holding means and a head member integralwith said means having a circular opening in one face thereof, a supplymagazine in said opening having a spiral and tensioned continuous rollof shaving tape therein, an opening in the rear portion of the memberhaving its face in an inclined plane intersecting the plane of the firstface, a take-up magazine in said rear opening for receiving the tape inroll form, said head member having an exposed groove in the perimeterthereof for accommodating the cutting edge of the tape and forming ashaving zone in contact with the face, each of said magazines having acup adjustably fitted in the respective face of the body and lugs forengagement with the opening, and a rotatable lid adapted to crimp oneend of the cup to form a seal therewith to contain the tape.

6. In combination, a safety razor having a handle and a triangularshaped head member extending at an angle greater than a right angle andhaving a groove at the perimeter thereof adapted to retain a shavingtape for depilating contact, an opening in the front portion thereof anda rear opening, each of said openings having bayonet slots therein and amagazine for each of said openings for a roll of continuous cuttingtape, each of said magazines having a slotted cup with diametricallyopposed lugs for said slots, and an overhanging peripheral lip and arotatable lid with a downwardly extending beveled flange adapted toslide over the lip of the cup, said lid having a hub with a slot thereinto retain one end of the roll of tape in the take-up magazine.

7. A safety razor adapted to hold and use a continuous shaving bladecomprising a holding member, a head member extending angularly from saidholding member, said head member being of substantially triangular shapewhereby one of the apical portions thereof, when viewed in plan, isintegral with said holding member and a face contacting base portion isdisposed opposite said apical portion, said head member having a planefront and an oblique rear face with an opening respectively in each faceand the planes of the bottom surfaces intersecting, a slot extendingfrom one opening along the perimeter of said base portion to the otheropening to accommodate a shaving tape therein, a rotatable magazine foreach of said openings for said tape for retaining and taking up saidtape respectively, said magazines each being slotted at spaced portionsthereof and having an overhanging peripheral lip, and having a coverslippable over the magazine forming a rotatable compressible fit, saidcover for each magazine being adapted to seal each magazine.

8. A safety razor, adapted to hold and use a tensioned continuous blade,comprising a handle, a head member extending angularly from said handle,said head member being of substantially triangular shape whereby one ofthe apical portions thereof is connected with said handle and a baseportion is disposed opposite said apical portion, said head memberhaving a front and rear opening each of Whose planes intersect the otherat a line beyond said base portion, said head member having a slotextending along the perimeter thereof from one opening across said baseportion to the other to accommodate a normally spiral roll of shavingtape, a portion of said slot in the base having a recessed frontpermitting exposure of the cutting edge of the tape, and a rotatablemeans in said openings for retaining and respectively taking up saidtape, said slot extending from the front opening to the recessed frontand inwardly toward the opening of the member, said rotatable meanscomprising a cup adjustably fitted in the respective opening of thebody, and a lid adapted to crimp one end of the cup to form a sealtherewith to contain the tape.

9. A safety razor adapted to hold and use a tensional continuous tapeblade from its spiral roll form comprising a holding member and a headmember angularly from said holding member, said head member beingsubstantially polygonal shaped whereby when viewed in plan, one of theapical portions thereof is connected with said holding member and a baseportion is disposed opposite said apical portion, said head memberhaving a plane front face and a rear inclined face whose planeintersects the plane of the front face beyond the: head member, each ofthe faces having an opening with opposed bayonet slots therein, and atape holding magazine for each of said openings, said magazines eachhaving a body with pins for setting in said slots, and a slitted coverrotatable on said body, said head member further having a grooveextending adjacent the perimeter of the member from one of said openingsacross said base portion to the other opening to accommodate a sectionof shaving tape with the cutt ng edge opposed, the groove along saidbase portion having one of its lips slightly recessed to permit exposureof the cutting edge of said tape, said tape forming a close fit in saidgroove along the base portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,308,801 Mergenthaler July 8, 1919 1,682,794 Moore Sept. 4, 1928FOREIGN PATENTS 301,566 Italy Oct. 6, 1932 442,886 Great Britain Feb.17, 1936 836,099 France Oct. 10, 1938

